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GEOGRAPHY 

of 

MAINE 



Copyright - 1910 by J. O. Kaler 



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MAINE 



The Aborigines. 

When that land which was called the New 
World, but which we now know as the Western 
Hemisphere, was discovered, the inhabitants were 
Indians, and in the territory known to-day as the 
State of Maine, it is generally believed that the 
tribe of red men who called themselves Opeiiaiii^os 
lived on the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay. Those 
known as Sokokis are supposed to have been the 
natives who dwelt in the vicinity of the Saco River. 
The Tarra tines claimed the lands bordering on the 
Penobscot River, while the Wawenocks lived near 
the Sheepscot, Pemaquid and St. Georges rivers. 
The Canihas were living on the banks of the Kenne- 
bec River, while the Etcchemins occupied the 
country between the Penobscot and the St. John 
rivers. Those Indians who called themselves Anas- 
agiuiticooks claimed the waters and territories of 
the Androscoggin River from its sources to Merry- 
meeting Bay, and on the west side of the Sagada- 
hock to the sea. 

Thus it can be seen that the territory afterward 
named Maine, was inhabited when Columbus first 
saw land in the Western Hemisphere, although by 
how many people it is impossible to say, some 
writers setting the figures at eleven thousand, and 
others claiming that the population must have been 
less than half that number. 



First White Visitors. 

Among the first white men to visit what is now 
the State of Maine, of whicii anything is known 
definitely, was Martin Pring, who sailed into Penob- 
scot Bay June 7, 16U3. 

It is true that Bartholomew Gosnold, on May 4, 
IGO,:^, sighted land on, or nearby, the Maine coast; 
but whether he saw Mount Desert, or the Isle of 
Shoals, cannot be stated positively. 

Pring landed on one of a group of islands, and, 
seeing there a number of silver-grey foxes, gave 
them the name of Fox Islands, which they now 
bear. He also sailed along the coast, and, perhaps, 
entered the Saco, the Kennebunk, and the York 
rivers. 

November 8, 1G03, Henry I\' of France granted 
to Pierre de Gast, Sieure de Monts, all the Ameri- 
can territory between the 40th and 4Gth degrees 
of north latitude, and this, as can be seen, included 
all the land from Cape Breton to the Hudson River. 

It is well to remember, however, that the kings 
of England, France, Holland, and even Sweden, 
gave away land in the New World without know- 
ing very much concerning the extent of the country, 
and regardless of the rights of others, therefore a 
grant was not an absolute title to the territory which 
it was supposed to cover, save in the eyes of the 
king who gave it. 

The second visitor to Maine, of whom anything 
authentic is known;, was George Weymouth, who 



laixled on what is now called AJonheg-an Island, 
l\lay 17, iGOo, and, later, explored Penobscot Bay 
and river. He carried aw^ay five savages a.- 
prisoners, either to show theni as cariosities in 
Eno^land, or to sell them as slaves. 



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First Settlement. 

The first settlement in Aiaine was under com na;:d 
of George Popham, who arrived from England 
Aug. 8, 1GU7, with a company of about one hundred 
persons, and began to build homes where is now 
the town of Phippsburg. 

During the year IGO.S two Jesuit missionaries 
settled on the island of Mount Desert, having come 
there from the French colony at Port Royal wMth 
the purpose of converting the Indians to Chris- 
tianity. They remained at that place five years. 

Samuel Argall visited the coast about the year 
IGIO, having come from Virginia. He landed on a 
small, rocky island at the entrance to Penobscot 
Bay. Finding there a large number of seals, he 
gaye the name Seal Rock to the island, by which 
it is now known. In September of the same year 
wdien Argall came, Sir George Somers landed on 
the coast near Sagadahock, stopping there on his 
voyage to Bermuda. 

In 1611 Edward Harlow, on a voyage of dis- 
covery, anchored ofif Monhegan, where he captured 
three Indians who had come on board to trade with 
him. One leaped overboard and swam ashore ; but 



the other t^', o \,ere carried to England in conpany 
with three others who were stolen at Cape Cod. 

Mount Desert. 

Siiassaye, the agent of a Frencii lady who had 
come into possession of the grant to Pierre de Gast, 
arrived at Mount Desert with twenty-five colonists, 
who built houses and a fort, a -id named the island 
St. Saviour. This was in May, loi3. The found- 
ing of such settlement did not please the people of 
Virginia, who claimed that the island of Mount 
Desert was included in their charter from the 
English king, and a fleet of fourteen fishing vessels, 
carrying sixty soldiers and fourteen cannons, under 
command of Samuel Argall, was sent to drive the 
Frenchmen away, all of which they did with but 
little difficulty, after killing one and wounding 
several. 

In April, 1G14, Captain John Smith arrived at 
Monhegan for purpose of trading with the natives 
and exploring the coast. He came with two vessels 
carrying forty-five men, and immediately after 
anchoring set about building seven small boats in 
which to make his voyages of trading and discovery. 

War Among the Indians. 
Then hostilities broke out among the Indians of 
which mention has been made, and a most bloody 
war ensued, probably from 1615 until 1618, the 
Tarratines coming off victors. At about the close 
of the war, perhaps shortly before, a fatal sickness 



came upon the savages. Some writers have be- 
Heved it was the small pox, while others claim that 
it must have been yellow^ fever. The Indians died 
in great nuiubers, and so rapidly, that in later years 
the English, on visiting the country, found the 
bones of the victims yet unburied. 

To Sir Fernando Gorges and Captain John Alason, 
the Plymouth Council, in the year U)22, granted 
all the country between the Merrimac and Sagada- 
hock rivers, and the territory thus conveyed was 
called "The Province of Laconia." Settlements 
were made in several places, and Monhegan Island 
was colonized. 

Early Settlements. 

As early as 1G23 a permanent settlement was 
commenced at Saco, and at about the same time 
land at Sagadahock, Sheepscot, Damariscotta, Pema- 
quid, on the banks of St. Georges River, and Arrow- 
sick Island, was occupied by white people. At 
Pemaquid a fort was built, and the village increased 
gradually until the beginning of the first Indian 
war. 

At Castine a trading house was built that the white 
men might barter goods for furs with the Tarratine 
Indians. It was the first English post of the kind 
in this section of America. 

Royal Patents. 
As time passed the land was divided into patents, 
plantations, or settlements, each having a distinct 



name, and extending from Cape Sable to the 
Plymouth Colony. Trouble arose as to the gov- 
ernment of these patents, and in 1G39, April 3, 
Gorges received from King Charles I, a charter 
of the lands from the mouth of the Piscataquis River 
"north-eastward along the coast to the Sagada- 
hock," and thus on in the language of the sarveyors, 
until in fact this charter was supposed to cover 
all the territory, including islands, from Cape Cod 
to the Sagadahock. The country was to be known 
as the "Province of Maine," and Gorges was made 
"Lord Proprietor" of the whole. 

It was in 1G51 that the Massachusetts Colony 
laid claim to the Province of Maine, alleoino- that 
it was situated within the bounds of their grant, 
and, Gorges being dead, one year later Massach i- 
setts took formal possession of all that land east- 
ward from Cape Cod to Clapboard Island, which 
last lay "three miles to the eastward of the Casco 
peninsula." Then, gradually, all the province was 
brought within the jurisdiction of Alassachusetts, 
even so far to the eastward as Passamaquoddy. 

A grandson of Sir Fernando Gorges petitioned 
to the king, claiming that he was being deprived 
of his lawful rights, and there was much legal con- 
tention regarding the territory until 1G77 when 
Massachusetts bought from the heirs of Gorges, for 
the sum of twleve hundred and fifty pounds, all 
claim to the province. 



Maine Admitted to the Union. 

Not until 18^0 was Maine admitted to the Union 
as a state. 

It is the easternmost territory of the United 
States; about 3U0 miles in length, with a breadth of 
28o miles, and an area approximately of 33,040 
square miles. 

When admitted to the Union its capitol was Port- 
land ; but in 1831 Augusta was designated as the 
seat of government. 

The northern boundary of Maine was for a long 
time in dispute, the controversy growing so bitter 
that in 1839 the legislature placed $800,000 at the 
governor's disposal for defence. The matter was 
settled by the Ashburton treaty of 1842. 

The name of "Pine Tree" state was given to Maine 
when a large proportion of her territory was 
covered with pine trees: but the enormous con- 
sumption of pine lumber, together with the wasteful 
methods of taking it from the forest, has so reduced 
the supply that the hills are no longer ''pine clad." 
There yet remain, however, millions upon millions 
of trees to serve the needs of man, and the lumber- 
ing operations in the northern and eastern parts 
of the state are of great magnitude. Such wood 
as poplar, which a few years ago was held to be 
worthless for any purpose, is now an important 
factor in the industry of the state, being utilized 
for pulp from which paper is made. The white or 
silver birch is converted into spools, toothpicks, 



fruit-boxes, and other small articles, and there i^ 
no longer any species, of tree in the forest which 
may not be used for the benefit of man. 

Industries of Maine. 

The forests afford fine hunting, with moose and 
deer abounding, while the many lakes and streams 
are teeming with game fish, therefore it is that 
thousands of visitors are attracted each year, in 
the early spring and late fall, from all parts of the 
country, while during the heat of the summer resi- 
dents of other states come to Alaine for pleasure 
in great numbers, thus making the caring for such 
travelers an important industry. 

The fisheries of Maine bring into the state many 
million dollars yearly. Cod, haddock, mackerel, and 
other food fish are shipped to the neighboring cities 
either fresh or salted. The taking of menhaden 
for their oil and value as a fertilizer, adds much to 
the wealth of the state, while that industry which 
is called "sardine packing", has become of consider- 
able importance. 

Ice cutting is an extensive and important industry 
in Maine, as is the quarrying of granite, slate and 
limestone. Agriculture ranks only second or third 
in the resources of the state, while it may truthfully 
be said that manufacturing is the chief industry. 

There are sixteen counties in Maine, with an area 
nearly equal to the other five New England states 
combined. 



In the state are 20 cities, 420 towns, 67 planta- 
tions, and 9,123,195 acres of so-called wild lands. 

Government. 

The constitution of 1820, with subsequent amend- 
ments, is the basis of the state government. The 
legislature consists of a senate, composed of 31 
members and a house of representatives of 151 mem- 
bers, all of whom are elected every two years. 

The executive officers are- a governor, who is 
assisted by a council of seven members, secretary 
of state, treasurer, attorney general, adjutant gen- 
eral, auditor, and superintendent of public schools. 

The judiciary consists of a supreme judicial 
court, composed of eight judges appointed by the 
governor and council for a term of seven years, 
the superior courts of Cumberland and Kennebec 
counties, a probate court in each county, municipal 
and police courts, and trial justices. 

Maine has two senators and four representatives 
in Congress, and six votes in the electoral college. 

Institutions. 
The National, State and Educational institutions 
are : 

Maine General Hospital at Portland. 
Central Maine General Hospital at Lewiston. 
Eastern Maine General Hospital at Bangor. 
Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary at Portland. 
Maine Hospital for the Insane at Augusta. 
State Prison at Thomaston. 



State School for Boys at South Portland. 

Maine Industrial School for Girls at Hallo well. 

Military and Naval Asylum for Orphans at Bath. 

National Home for Disabled X'olunteer Soldiers at 
Togus. 

United States Marine Hospital at Portland. 

United States Navy Yard at Kittery. 

University of Maine at Orono. 

State Normal Schools at Farmington, Castine, 
Gorham and Presque Isle. 

Madawaska Training School at Fort Kent. 

Maine School for the Deaf at Portland. 

Bowdoin College at Brunswick, incorporated 1794. 

Colby College at Waterville, incorporated 1813. 

Bates College at Lewiston, incorporated 18G4. 

Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, incorpo- 
rated 1821. 

Bangor Theological Seminary at Bangor, incorpo- 
rated 1814. 

Cobb Divinity School at Lewiston, established 1870. 

College of Law (University of Maine) at Bangor. 

College of Pharmacy (University of Alaine) at 
Orono. 

Medical School of Maine at Brunswick. 

Penobscot River. 
The largest river in Maine is the Penobscot, the 
west branch of which rises not far from the north- 
western shore of Moosehead Lake, while the east 
branch has its source in Mattawamkeag and 
Pleasant lakes. The two branches unite at Matta- 



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wamkeag, the main river running easterly and 
southerly to Penobscot Bay. A large amount of 
timber is cut near this river and its tributaries, a 
portion of which is converted into paper above tide 
waters, and the remainder rafted to Bangor, which 
city is at the head of ship navigation, at the junction 
of the Kenduskeag stream with the river, and 
about sixty miles from the ocean. Mere are many 
large sawmills for cutting the logs into lumber, and 
nearby on the banks of the river are huge buildings 
for storing the ice which is cut each winter. 

Bangor is the second largest city in the state. 
It is the point of departure for tourists, hunters 
and fishermen who visit the northern section. 
Trains run from Bangor to St. John in New Bruns- 
wick ; to many parts of Aroostook County, and 
across the state to Boston. In this city is located 
the Bangor Theological Seminary, the University 
of Maine's College of Law, and the Eastern Maine 
General Hospital. The Indian name of Bangor 
was Kenduskeag. Prior to 1(35(5 a fort was built 
here by the French, and called Norombega. The 
town was settled by the English in 1769, and was 
plundered by the British in 1814, when the kind's 
troops took possession of Eastport, afterward land- 
ing at Hampden, six miles below Bangor, where a 
skirmish took place with the local militia, when one 
man was killed. 

Twelve miles north of Bangor, on the Penobscot, 
is Old Town, where is a government reservation on 



12 



which hve the descendants of the Penobscot or Tar- 
ratine Indians. Large kimbering operations are 
carried on from here, and here also are factories 
for the building of canoes, in which industry many 
men are employed. Hunters intending to go into 
the forest get Indian guides at this place, of which 
there are many who work as lumbermen during 
such seasons of the year as the killing of game 
animals is forbidden by law. 

Five miles south of Old Town is Orono, where 
is located the University of Maine with its College 
of Pharmacy. The town gets its name from one 
of the chiefs of the Tarratine tribe. 

Eighteen miles below Bangor is Bucksport, oppo- 
site which town is Fort Knox, a fortification of the 
old type, which was completed at the beginning of 
the Civil War. 

Penobscot Bay. 

Stockton Springs, the seaboard terminal of the 
Bangor & Aroostook railroad, eight miles south- 
west of Fort Knox, is on Penobscot Bay. Here it 
was that the Massachusetts Bay Colony built a 
fort in 1759, giving it the name of Pownal. 

Nearly opposite, on the other side of the bay, is 
Castine, formerly known as Bagaduce, or 'Biguy- 
duce. Here it was that the first English trading 
post in Maine was established by the Plymouth 
Company. In 1635 a Frenchman by name of 
D'Aulhey settled in Bagaduce, intending to found 
a village. He was driven away by the English, 



who in turn were compelled by the Dutch to aban- 
don the place. In the year 1G()7 Baron Jean \'in- 
cent de St. Castine came to this place and built a 
home, makings his possession the more secure by 
marrying the daughter of Aladockawando, chief of 
the Tarratines. The town was occupied by the 
British for nearly a year during the War of 1812. 
At Castine is located one of the State Xormal 
schools. 

Again crossing the bay, one arrives at the city 
of Belfast, which was incorporated as a town in 
ITTo. The inhabitants were driven away by the 
British in 1779, and did not return in any numbers 
until five years later. In 1S15 it was occupied by 
the king's troops, who held possession nearly a 
year. 

On the westerly side of the entrance to Penob- 
scot Bay is the city of Rockland, locally famous for 
its manufacture of lime, and the many large granite 
quarries nearby. 

Kennebec River. 
The second largest river is the Kennebec, having 
its source near the westerly shore of Moosehead 
lake, and its mouth in Merrymeeting Bay. It is 
navigable from the sea as far as Augusta, the 
capitol, the Indian name of which was Cushnoc. 
Here it was, about the year 1716, that a Doctor 
Noyes of Boston built a stone fort as protection 
against the savages, and, because of such place of 
refuge in time of danger, settlers were encouraged 



14 



to build homes in that vicinity. This same Doctor 
Noyes embarlced in tne sturgeon hshery on what 
was then cahed '"the several brancnes of the Sagada- 
hock River," employing no less than twenty vessels 
to carry the rish to England as well as to the people 
of Massachusetts Bay. At Augusta is an United 
States Arsenal. There are factories for the making 
of cotton goods, wood pulp for paper, and other 
industries. 

Thirty-nine miles north of Augusta, on the Ken- 
nebec, is the town of Skowhegan, an Indian name 
meaning "a place in which to watch," so-called be- 
cause there the savages watched fur the coming 
of fish up the river. The chief industry is lumber- 
ing. 

Eighteen miles north of Augusta is the city of 
Waterville, where is located Colby College and the 
Coburn Classical Institute. Waterville has large 
cotton mills, and is the location of the Maine 
Central railroad car shops. On the opposite side 
of the river is Winslow, where are paper and pulp 
mills. 

Four miles south-east of Augusta, on the east 
side of the river, is the United States Military 
Reservation known as Togus, where is located the 
Eastern Branch National Home for Disabled Vol- 
unteer Soldiers, the first institution of the kind 
established in this country. 

Two miles below Augusta, on the same side of 
the river, is the city of Hallowell, where are large 



15 



granite quarries, and where is located the State In- 
dustrial School for Girls. 

Four miles below Hallowell where the Cobbos- 
seeco:itee River enters the Kennebec, is the city of 
Gardir.er, with its manufactories of paper pulp, 
furniture and boots and shoes. 

Sagadauock Rixer. 

The Kennebec unites with the Androscoggin, 
forming what is sometimes called the Sagadahock 
River, and was formerly known as "the chops," 
meaning the waters of the two rivers as they "mer- 
rily meet and form Merrymeeting Bay. 

Twelve miles from the ocean is the city of Bath, 
where are large ship-building plants. Here also 
is located the Military and Naval Assylum for Or- 
phans. Bath is said to have been first visited by 
George Weymouth, in 1G05, and the land on which 
it is situated was purchased by the Rev. Robert 
Gutch of Salem, Massachusetts, in KJGO, from an 
Indian sachem called Robin Hood. 

Large quantities of logs are rafted down the 
Kennebec in the spring, and during the winter seas: n 
the harvesting of ice gives employment to many 
hundred men. 

It was during his unsuccessful expedition to 
Quebec in 1775 that Benedict Arnold led his troops 
up the Kennebec as far as Dead River, and from 
there to the Chaudiere. 

August 11, 1607, George Popham landed near the 
mouth of the Sagadahock River, and erected dwell- 



16 



ings and a fort. Sir George Somers halted at the 
same place on his way to Bermuda in 1610, and 
Captain John Smith made his headquarters in this 
vicinity while exploring the coast in 1611:. In 1626 
the people of Plymouth sent a shallop loaded with 
corn up the Kennebec River, exchanging the cargo 
for furs, and two years later they established a 
trading post, probably above Merrymeeting Ray. 

Androscoggin River. 

The third river of importance is the Androscog- 
gin, which rises near Parmachenee Lake, and runs 
in its irregular course about one hundred sixty 
miles, affording water-power to the factories and 
mills along its way, until it unites with the Kenne- 
bec at IMerrymeeting Bay. This river crosses the 
boundary line of New Hampshire, running through 
Umbagog Lake and beyond a distance of nearly 
twenty-five miles, after which the remainder of its 
course is in Maine. 

At Rum ford are two falls which supply an 
enormous water-power, while at Lew^ston and 
Auburn are large factories that harness the swiftly- 
running river to their machinery. 

At Lewiston, where is located Bates College, the 
Cobb Divinity School, and the Central Maine Gen- 
eral Hospital, the chief industry is the making of 
cotton and woolen goods, while at Auburn, on the 
opposite side of the river, the manufacture of boots 
and shoes is of the most importance. 

Eight miles down the river from Auburn is Lis- 



17 



bon, where are pulp, fibre, cotton, grist and s.iw 
mills. 

Yet further on, situated twenty-five miles north- 
east of Portland, is Brunswick, the original na ne 
of wdiich w^as Pejepscot, w^here is located Bowdoin 
College and the Medical School of Maine. 

Saco River. 

The fourth river is the Saco, which rises in the 
White Mountains of New Hampshire, and runs 
about one hundred forty miles to Saco Bay. This 
river is fed in part through Lovewell's P^ond in 
Fryeburg where. May 19, 1725, a most desperate 
battle was fought between the Indians and settlers 
under command of Captain John Lovewell. 

On this river is sit.iated the city of Biddeford, 
wdiere are large mills for the manufacture of cotton 
goods, and opposite, on the other side of the river, 
is the city of Saco, w^ith its woolen and cotton mills, 
machine shops, and store-houses for ice. 

It is probable that Martin Pring sailed up this 
river as far as the present location of the two 
cities, in 1G03, when he was exploring the coast. It 
is also believed that Richard Vines spent the winter 
of 1617 or 1618 on this river, w^hen the Indians 
were smitten by a plague, the exact nature of which 
is not known. 

As early as 1(523 a permanent settlement was 
commenced at W' inter Harbor, then called the plan- 
tation of Saco. 

The first orq-anized 2;overnment established with- 



18 



in the limits of the now State of Maine, was ai 
Saco in 1G36, under Governor Gorges. 

Bays, Mountains and Lakes. 

The three largest bays on the coast of Elaine are: 
Penobscot Bay, situated nearly on the center of the 
coast-line, with Casco Bay on the west, and Passa- 
maquoddy Bay on the east. 

The highest mountain is Katahdin, standing in 
the north central part of the state about seventy 
miles north-west from the head tide of the Penob- 
scot River. It is the southernmost of nine lofty 
ridges. In the early days of the white men's com- 
ing, the Indians did not dare climb to the top of 
this mountain, believing there lived, during the 
summer season, an evil spirit, by name Pamola, who 
had the head and face of a man, and the body and 
feet of an eagle. The legend amcng the savages 
was that Pamola destroyed every red man who 
dared invade his home. 

Of lakes and ponds there are about 1501) in the 
state, Moosehead being the largest. 

Minerals. 

Iron ore to considerable amount is found about 
fifty miles south-west from Mt. Katahdin. A mine 
was worked there with profit during several years. 
It is now abandoned. 

Gold in very small quantity is found in the state ; 
but not to such amount that it can be taken out with 
advantage to the miner. At Swift River, in the 



19 



town of Byroii, gold is washed from the saiul, a;i 
industrious man being able to gather from one to 
two dollars' w^orth per day. 

Feldspar is found at Topsham, Auburn, Minot 
and other localities. 

Extensive granite quarries are at Frankfort, lial- 
lowell, Jay and in the vicinity of Rockland. 

From Paris Hill, Auburn, Hebron and Stow 
come tourmaline, amethysts, beryl, garnets, and 
many other se:ni-precious stones. 

Slate is quarried at Monson, Brownville and other 
places. 

Plumbago is found throughout Oxford County. 

Mica in marketable size is mined at Canton, 
Paris Hill and Hebron. 

Portland. 

Portland, situated at the head of Casco Bay, the 
largest city in the state, was the capitol from 1820 
w^hen Maine was admitted to the Union, until 1831, 
when the seat of government was removed to 
Augusta. 

When that part of the state now known as Port- 
land, Stroudwater, Westbrook,Cape Elizabeth, South 
Portland, Falmouth and the islands of Casco Bay 
was first settled, the entire territory w^as called Fal- 
mouth by the white people, and by the Indians, 
Machigonne. The peninsula upon which the city 
is built, went by the name of Casco Neck. The 
first settler was Christopher Leavitt, who built a 
house on one of the islands in the bay. probably that 



20 



one which is now known as Great Hog Island, and 
this building was erected during the winter of lG2o- 
24:. At that time Richmond's or Richman's Island, 
at the mouth of the Spurwink River, had been settled 
by Walter Bagnall, w^ho took up his abode there 
three years before Boston town was begun. 

In 1032 Richard Tucker and George Cleaves 
settled on the peninsula, and Arthur Mackworth 
built a home east of the Presumpsc^t River, near 
its mouth. The plantati( n grew with reasonable 
rapidity until 1G7G, when it was attacked by the 
savages, and the white people either killed or driven 
away. Two years later, after peace had been 
agreed upon by the red and wdiite men, the town 
was once more occupied, and the inhabitants re- 
mained unmolested until the outbreak of wdiat is 
known as the Second Indian War, when, the savages 
of Maine being again on the war path, Major Ben- 
jamin Church of Plymouth w^as sent by the Massa- 
chusetts Colony to subdue them. A pitched battle 
was fought ; but no decisive victory gained. 

In 1090 Falmouth was attacked by the French 
and Indians, and once more was it laid waste. 
Again Major Church came from Massachusetts 
and gave battle to the enemy, who were holding 
possession of the peninsula when, as Williamson 
writes, "a smart engagement ensued." Not until 
1699 did the settlers return to their farms, and then 
Falmouth once more "took on the look of a village." 

In 1703 the Third Indian War broke out, durinij 



21 



v.hich a garrison was maintained at P\ilmoLith, Lul 
the settlers abandoned the place and did n^t return 
to till the land until the year 1708 or 1709, from 
which time they continued to hold possession, al- 
thoug-h sulfering much from the depredations of 
the Indians. The town was burned by a British 
force October 18, 1775. September 5, 1813 the 
British brig Boxer was captured off Portland harbor 
by the American brig Enterprise. 

A large trade between Canada and England is 
carried on throtigh Portland when the St. Law- 
rence River is ice-bound. In this city is located 
the Maine General Hospital the Maine Eye and 
Ear Infirmary, the Maine School for the Deaf, and 
the United States Marine Hospital. Across the 
harbor, in South Portland, once known as Pan:o- 
duck, is the State School for Boys. Portland has 
one of the best harbors on the Atlantic coast, where 
the largest ships may ride in safety. 

MONHEGAN AND PeMAQUID. 

The island of Monhegan is situated n.ine miles 
south-east from Pemaquid Point, and sixteen miles 
from Boothbay Harbor. It is about one mile wide 
and two and one-half long. The island has been 
a landmark for sailors since the day in 1(J05 when 
George Weymouth landed there, giving it the name 
of Pentecost. George Popham came to anchor off 
Monhegan in ir)07 before proceeding to the mouth 
of the Sagadahock. When Edward Harlow visited 
Monhegan in irai, it had already become "a noted 



22 



mart for trade with the natives." It was perma- 
nently peopled about liJ22, being a halting place 
for all who sailed along the coast. In 162o the 
people of Plymouth, claiming to own the island by 
virtue of their grant from the king, sold it for fifty 
pounds sterling. 

Pemaquid is now included in the town of Bristol. 
The earliest settlements on Pemaquid River were 
made probably in 1G23 or 1G24. A fort was built 
there about that time, and taken by pirates under 
the leadership of Dixy Bull in 1()32. It has been 
stated that in 1G30 "there were eighty-four families, 
besides fishermen, about Sheepscot, Pemaquid and 
St. Georges." 

Machias was, in 1633, a trading post established 
by Richard Vines ; but the French under la Tour 
destroyed it during the following year. An unsuc- 
cessful attempt at a settlement was made by the 
French in 1644. It was permanently settled in 1763, 
and in 1775 the inhabitants captured two British 
armed vessels, carrying their crew^s in triumph to 
the American camp at Cambridge. The tow^n is 
situated on Old Stream River, north-west from the 
head of Machias Bay; its chief industries are lum- 
bering and shipbuilding. 

Bar Harbor, the celebrated summer resort, is in 
the town of Eden on that same island of Mount 
Desert where the Jesuit Missionaries settled in 
1608, with the hope of Christianizing the savages. 
There are many noted watering places on the island, 
but none so popular as Bar Harbor. 



23 



Eastport, formerly called Moose Island, and given 
its present name because of being the most easterly 
seaport in the United States, is situated on .Aloose 
Island in Passamaquoddy Bay. During the War 
of 1S12 it was taken possession of by the British. 
Its important industries are the fisheries and ship- 
building. 

Westbrook, on the Presumpscot River, is six miles 
north-west of Portland, and among other industries, 
has a large factory exclusively for the manufacture 
of silk goods. 

Readfield is situated twelve miles west of Au- 
gusta, and is the seat of the Maine Wesleyan Sem- 
inary and Woman's College. The seminary was 
established 1821, and the college chartered 1859, 
The chief industry of the town is the manufacture 
of woolen cloth. 

Gorham, the seat of one of the State Normal 
Schools, lies ten miles west of Portland. The town- 
ship was originally granted to those soldiers who 
served during King Philip's War. 



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